Stringed musical instrument.



W. D. BOHNBNBERGER. STRINGBD MUSIGAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1907.

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l/qkbueooeo I R! PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

WILLIAM D.

BOHNENBERGER, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

STBINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

' Application filed March 25, 1907- Serial No. 36%498.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. BOHNEN- BERGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of NewJersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stringed MusicalInstruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments, more particularlyto banjos, and has for its object to produce such an instrument as willrender a clear, sharp and loud tone of the finest quality when played.

This invention consists in the features of construction, combinations ofelements and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described inthe specification and pointed out in the claims.

A desirable embodiment of my invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which the reference characters of thespecification indicate the corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention partly broken away toshow the standards and supporting ring resting thereon. Fig. 2 is across-section on the line 00-00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofone of the standards on which the supporting ring rests. Fig. 4 is adetail of one of the standards having its upper end curved to it thesupporting ring, whereby said ring is held in. alinement.

In the drawing, A represents the rim of my improved banjo; B thevibrating diaphragm thereof; C the neck D the head piece and E thestrings which extend over the bridge F. The strings are secured at theirlower ends to a tail piece G, and at their upper ends to tuning keys II.

The rim A is provided with a series of brackets 1 around thecircumference thereof, which are secured thereto by bolts 2 extendingthrough the rim.

3 are vertical standards fitting in vertical holes 4. in-the rim andresting on the bracket bolts 2. The upper ends of the standards arebeveled on two opposite sides to an edge 5 extending diametricallyacross the tops of said standards and radially to the center of the rim.

6 is the resounding diaphragm supporting ring resting on the edges 5 ofthe standards 3, and. fitting in the concaved upper ends 7 of standards8. The standards 8 hold the ring in alinement and revents the same fromsliding off the stanc ards.

The vibrating diaphragm B rests on top of the supporting ring 6 andextends downwardly over the outside thereof, having its outer edgewrapped around the flesh hoop 9.

10 is the stretching hoop directly above the flesh hoop, said stretchinghoop being engaged by the hooks 11 extending downwardly through openingsin the brackets 1. The lower ends of the hooks are threaded to receivenuts 12. When the nuts are turned, the hooks, stretching hoop and fleshhoop are pulled downwardly, gripping the diaphragm between thestretching hoop and flesh hoo whereby the diaphragm is drawn tightlyover the supporting ring to the proper ten- S1011.

, When the instrument is played it will be apparent from the manner inwhich the resounding ring is mounted and the space between the ring andthe rim, that the ring will be allowed to vibrate in harmony with thevibrations of the diaphragm, whereby the tone of the instrument isgreatly improved, as above mentioned.

I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details herein shown anddescribed, as it is obvious that variations may be made withoutdestroying the identity of my invention. An instance of such variationswould be to have the upper ends of the standards concaved or pointedinstead of beveled to an edge, as shown and described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a musical instrument, the combination, a rim, standards mounted in said rim, said standards beingbeveled. to an edge on their upper ends, a resounding ring resting onsaid upper ends of said standards, a vibrating diaphragm drawn over saidresounding ring, and means for fastening and adjusting said diaphragm inposition on said ring.

2. In a musical instrument, the combination, a rim, bolts extendingthrough said rim, standards mounted within. recesses in said. rim andresting on said bolts, a resounding ring resting on the upper ends ofsaid standards, a vibrating diaphragm drawn over said resounding ring,and means for fastening and adjusting said diaphragm in position on saidresounding ring.

3. In a musical instrument, in combination, a rim, brackets, boltsextending through said rim and securing said brackets thereto, standardsfitting in holes in said rim and resting on said bolts, said standardsbeing beveled to an edge on their upper ends, a resounding ring restingon said edges of said standards,

wrapped around said flesh hoop, a stretching hoop above said flesh hoop,saiddiaphragm being adapted to be gripped between said flesh hoop andsaid stretching hoop, hooks engaging said stretching hoop and extendingthrough holesin said brackets, and -nuts on the lower screwthreaded endsof said hooks whereby the diaphragm is adjusted on said resounding ring.

l. In a musical instrument, in combination, a rim, standards mounted insaid rim, said standards being beveled toan edge on their upper ends, aresounding ring resting on said edges of said standards, a space betweenthe top edge of the rim and the resounding ring, a vibrating diaphragmresting on said resounding ring, and means for drawing the diaphragm tothe proper tension on said resounding ring.

5. In a musical instrument, a rim, standards mounted in said rim, adiaphragm sup porting ring resting on the upper ends of said standards,said upper ends of the standards being shaped to fit the ring, wherebythe said ring is held in alinement.

6. In a musical instrument, in combina tion, a rim, standards mounted insaid rim,

said standards being beveled to an edge at their upper ends, aresounding ring resting ireely upon said edges of said standards and aflesh hoop a vibrating d1ahra m drawn over said IGSOUHCIlD r1n and D b badapted to vibrate about said edges, a vibrating diaphragm resting onsaid resounding ring, and means for drawing the diaphragm to the propertension on said resounding ring.

7. In a musical instrument, a rim, standards mounted in said rim andprovided with concave upper ends, and a diaphragm supporting ringprovided with a convex lower surface resting in said standards.

8. In a musical instrument, in combination, a rim having mounted thereina plurality of standards having beveled edges at their upper ends and aplurality of standards having concave upper ends, and, a resounding ringprovided with a convex lower surface resting within the said concaveends and upon said edges whereby said ring is hold into alinement bycertain of said standards and permitted to vibrate freely by the othersthereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM I). BOHNENBERGER.

itnesses:

W ALTER CRONHEIM, JOHN MULVANEY.

